2013 Project Lead The Way,

Inc.
PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 1



Project 6.1.1: Student Response Sheet

Introduction
Anna Garcia was only 38 when she died, meaning that at least one of her body
systems was no longer able to support life. The failure of one or more of her body
systems may be the result of injury due to an accident or could be the result of an
illness or a combination of illnesses. Before we can determine which system or
systems failed or what caused the failure which led to her death, we have to learn
more about the human body.

The human body is an amazing machine composed of many interrelated systems
which are in turn composed of cells, tissues, and organs that act independently and
interdependently within the body. No individual component of a human body works
alone. Components of each system in the body affect or interact with every other
system. The body is dependent upon the many interactions between all systems and
structures to maintain homeostasis and health. In this activity you will investigate the
different body systems that make up the human body and explore all of the ways
Annas various illnesses affected each body system, potentially resulting in her
premature death.

Procedure:

1. Look back in your course file and list all of the ways each body system was
impacted by the illness or disease Anna Garcia experienced in her life.
2. Reference Autopsy Reports, Medical Histories and past lab activities to help you
organize this information.
3. Record any evidence that shows how the illness or disease may have been
involved with her untimely death.
4. Be specific about relationships between body systems and illness. You will use
this chart to help construct your final timeline that explains how Anna died.
5. You will need to eventually upload this document to your e-portfolio under Annas
Cause of Death.










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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 2





Part II: Annas Illnesses

Illnesses
Effect on
System (if
applicable)


Diabetes Sickle Cell
Anemia
Heart Disease Urinary Tract
Infection
Cardiovascular









Glucagon is
carried in the
blood and
signals the liver
to release
glucose into the
blood and the of
insulin in the
blood tells the
cells to take in
glucose from
the blood. If
blood glucose
levels become
too high for too
long it can
cause damage
to the blood
vessels.







Anemia in
sickle cell
disease results
in chamber
dilation and a
compensatory
increase in left
ventricular
mass. This is
often
accompanied
by left
ventricular
diastolic
dysfunction
that has also a
strong reason
for mortality in
sickle cell
anemia
patients.
Heart disease
can cause heart
failure and heart
attacks. Patients
with heart
disease are
more likely to
have
cardiovascular
problems.
Bacteria
spreading can
cause the
infection to
spread to the
lungs and and
heart and cause
poor circulation
throughout the
body. The lack
of oxygen to
parts of the
body can cause
limbs to die and
turn blue.



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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 3












Digestive









Diabetes can
affect the
stomach if the
nerves
controlling the
stomach are
damaged by
high blood
glucose levels.
Bilirubin
gallstones -
sickle cells die
in 20 days;
liver breaks
down the
bilirubin; extra
bilirubin can
become a
gallstone in the
gallbladder


(bilirubin forms
bile)





If oxygen is not
getting to the
heart, it is not
getting to other
parts of the
circulatory
system. If the
supply of
oxygen-rich
blood flow to the
small intestine
or colon is
blocked or
altered, the
digestive tract
cannot function
properly. The
result is
intestinal
ischemia.

Septic shock
brought on by a
UTI can cause
organs in the
digestive
system to
become infected
or shut down
Immune









Diabetes
patients,
especially those
with type one,
have an
immune system
with a lower
ability to
respond to and
deal with any
infections.
The immune
system is
directly
affected by
sickle cell
anemia
because
immune cells
reach their
target areas
through the
blood flow.
The overactive
use of the
immune system
will cause
inflammation,
pain, and
destruction of
healthy tissue.
This can
damage the
heart muscle
and increase
risk of heart
attacks. With the
Increased
production of
lymphocytes (B
& T cells) and
antibodies
against the
bacteria;
Inflammatory
response (may
increase
additional UTI
and/or damage
to urinary tract
structures.



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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 4

Sickle cells
block or
reduce blood
flow,
decreasing the
delivery of
germ-fighting
immune cells
to parts of the
body. The
spleen is also
an important
immune
system organ,
and damage to
the spleen or
removal of the
spleen
increases the
risk of infection
in the body,
particularly in
children.


immune system
out of business,
infections can
spread, foreign
invaders can
come in, and the
body cant do
anything to fight
off invaders.
Nervous









People with
diabetes can
develop
different types
of neuropathy.
This can result
in many
different ways
including
metabolic
factors,
autoimmune
factors that can
cause nerves to
inflame and
inherited traits.
Two-thirds of
all strokes in
people with
sickle cell
disease occur
in children, at
an average
age of 8 years.
About 10% of
people with
sickle cell
disease have
strokes or
other brain
bleeding when
younger than
Autonomic
nervous system
is what causes
our bodies to
perform
involuntary
actions such as
our heart
beating. With
the autonomic
nervous system
being affected, it
can cause
irregular
contractions in
the heart.
Severe
infections may
lead to chronic
inflammation in
the central
nervous system
(CNS).



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Symptoms can
include
numbness in
the limbs,
dizziness, and
total body
weakness.
8-10 years.
Respiratory









Rapid or
laboured
breathing,
known as
Kussmaul
breathing, can
be a symptom
of diabetic
ketoacidosis.
DKA is a result
of no insulin in
the body so the
body switches
to burning fatty
acids, producing
acidic keytone
bodies.
Acute chest
syndrome can
result from
Sickle Cell
Anemia which
occurs when
the lung tissue
is deprived of
oxygen(From
the sickle cells
clogging the
arteries). It can
cause fevers,
wheezing, and
rapid
breathing.
Lungs can
become
congested. Fluid
backup in the
lungs can cause
a shortness of
breath with
exercise or even
difficulty
breathing while
resting. Lung
congestion can
also cause a dry
hacking cough
or wheezing.
If the bacteria
spreads, it will
result in sepsis
which can
cause tissue on
the lungs to
deteriorate. This
can result in an
increased
difficulty of
breathing.
Urinary









High levels of
blood sugar
make the
kidneys filter too
much blood. All
of this extra
work is hard on
the filters. After
many years,
they start to
leak and useful
protein is lost in
the urine.
Having small
amounts of
protein in the
urine is called
microalbuminuri
a which is an
early form of
kidney disease.
Enuresis is
very common
in people with
sickle cell
anemia. This
side effect
causes
increased
urination and
maybe even
bedwetting
from the
uncontrollable
bladder. This is
caused by the
sickle cells
clogging the
blood vessels
in the kidneys
which prevent
the kidneys
from working
With heart
failure, the body
fills up with fluid
which the
bladder needs
to get rid of.
This causes
increased
amount and
frequency of
urination.
A urinary tract
infection (UTI) is
an infection in
any part of your
urinary system
your kidneys,
ureters, bladder
and urethra.
Most infections
involve the
lower urinary
tract the
bladder and the
urethra.



2013 Project Lead The Way,

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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 6

properly.

Sources Used:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/128264-systems-body-affected-sickle-cell/
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/
http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/sickle-cell-disease
http://www.heart-health-guide.com/heart-disease-and-immune-system.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-
infection/basics/definition/con-20037892